West Bengal is India's second largest black carbon hotspot, CSE study finds 95,901 tonnes annual industrial emissions

A new study from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) identifies West Bengal as a major black carbon hotspot, with industrial facilities emitting 95,901 tonnes of black carbon annually. The state ranks second in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, a region that produces roughly 4.5 lakh tonnes of industrial black carbon each year under uncontrolled conditions. The assessment mapped 5,995 industrial units across 38 categories, including iron and steel, chemicals, foundries, paper and pulp, and brick kilns. These facilities burn 51.6 million tonnes of coal and large volumes of petroleum and alternative fuels each year. CSE held a workshop in Kolkata on July 1, 2026, with the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board, and industry leaders to discuss state-specific mitigation strategies. Black carbon is both a health hazard and a short-lived climate forcer, but it remains largely outside mainstream Indian environmental policy. The study argues that a localized, bottom-up approach is needed to cut emissions and improve air quality. For anyone tracking industrial decarbonization or short-lived climate pollutants in South Asia, this is a concrete data point worth reading.